Reclining chair of the multiple position type



Oct. 23, 1962 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,059,968

RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE POSITION TYPE Fiied May 17, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I. g4.

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RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE POSITION TYPE Filed May 17, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 D /22 F Ki. 4.

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IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent 3,059,962; RECLINlNG (YEAR OF THE MULTWLE POSHTKUN TYPE Fridtjof F. chliephacke, Berlin-Schmargendort, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz, Qcean Ridge, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Filed May 17, 196i Ser. No. 29,733 13 tClaims. {CL 2&7-321) The present invention relates generally to reclining chairs and in particular to an improved reclining chair of the type including a body-supporting means having a movable seat and a movable back-rest which are c0- ordinated with each other to include at least two distinct phases of chair movement and multiple chair positions.

Of recent times there has been developed multiplemovement reclining chairs which are suitable for ac commodating the chair occupant in a semi-reclined or tilted back sitting attitude and in a fully reclined or complete relaxation attitude. Such multiple movement chairs may be of the rester type incorporating a unitary bacl -rest and seat wherein there are first and second movement phases, with the chair moving from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted sitting position during the first movement phase and from the intermediate tilted sitting position to a reclining position in the second movement phase. There is no change in the angular relationship between the seat and back-rest during such two movement phases due to the unitary construction of the body-supporting means. The multiple movement chairs may be of the recliner type which incorporates a movable seat and movable back-rest wherein there are also two phases of chair movements, with the chair moving from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted sitting position during the first movement phase and from the intermediate tilted sitting position to a reclining position in a second movement phase, with an increase in the angular relationship between the seat and back-rest during the second movement phase. In both the rester and recliner types of chairs, a leg-rest is mounted to move into a substantially elevated leg-supporting position during the first movement phase, with the leg-rest remaining in an elevated leg-supporting position in relation to the body-supporting means during the second movement phase.

The intermediate tilted sitting position of both of these multiple movement chairs is particularly appropriate for accommodating the chair occupant in a position suitable for television viewing, reading, sewing or the like wherein the occupant is in a tilted-back sitting attitude. During the second movement phase, the separately movable seat and back-rest of the recliner type chairs are displaced relative to each other to establish an optimum angular relationship for the occupants body, as compared to the rester type chairs wherein the angular relationship between the seat and back-rest is fixed throughout the second movement phase. Such rester type chairs may tend to afford less comfort for the chair occupant, particularly as compared to the recliner type wherein a predetermined optimum relationship may be established as the chair moves into the fully reclined position.

Experience indicates that it is simpler and cheaper to construct multiple position chairs of the rester type incorporating a rigid seat and back-rest as compared to multiple movement chairs of the recliner type incorporating a movable seat and a movable back-rest. However, such advantages also carry with them a sacrifice in the comfort of the chair occupant during the second movement phase, particularly in the fully reclined position of the chair. There exists a need for a multiple movement reclining chair which during the second movement phase brings about at least a small increase in the included angle between the seat and back-rest, for example of the order of 5 to 10, to aiford a more comfortable attitude for the chair occupant during the second movement phase and in the reclining position as compared to the multiple movement chairs of the rester type. Although reclining chairs of the recliner type wherein the optimum increase in the angular relationship between the seat and back-rest is achieved in the second movement phase are most desirable, a compromise between the two chair types would certainly afford greater comfort, with the advantages of economy and simplicity in chair construction.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new type of multiple movement reclining chair. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a recliner type of multiple movement chair which provides for a somewhat increased angular relationship between the seat and back-rest thereof during the second movement phase to establish a more comfortable reclining position as compared to the rester type of multiple movement chairs.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved multiple movement reclining chair having relatively simple coordinating mechanisms comparable to those in a rester type of chair yet incorporating some of the comfort attributes of a recliner type chair.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the present invention there is provided a reclining chair which comprises a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on the support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, and a carrier member movably mounted on the support. Seat guiding means are operatively connected to the carrier member, with the seat being pivotally connected to the back-rest at a seat pivot. Back-rest guiding means are operatively connected to the back-rest and to the support, with an actuating connection being provided between the back-rest guiding means and the carrier member for reclining the back-rest relative to the seat in response to movement of the carrier member relative to the support. Sequencing means are operatively connected to the seat guiding means and to the support and serve during the first movement phase to permit inclining movement of the seat relative to the carrier member and to preclude movement of the carrier member relative to the support and during a second movement phase to preclude inclining movement of the seat relative to the carrier member and to permit movement of the carrier member relative to the support. The inclining movement of the seat under the control of the seat guiding means and the reclining movement of the back-rest under the control of the back-rest guiding means is arranged such that there is substantially no angular displacement between the seat and back-rest during the first movement phase. The movement of the carrier member during the second movement phase and the further reclining movement of the back-rest during such second movement phase is such that there is an increasing angular displacement between the seat and back-rest during the second movement phase to establish a more comfortable reclining position as compared to that attainable with a rester type chair.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of several presently preferred but illustrative embodiments according to the invention, when taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, shown in the upright or sitting position, with parts broken away for the purposes of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in the intermediate tilted sitting position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in the fully reclined position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, shown in the upright or sitting position, with parts broken away for the purposes of illustration;

FIG. 5 is a side elevationai view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the chair in the intermediate tilted sitting position; and,

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the chair in the fully reclined position.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings there is shown a reclining chair, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which includes a support or frame 12 having opposite side walls 14, i6 interconnected by suitable cross braces 18 and supported on depending legs 20.

Body-supporting means including a back-rest 22 and a seat 24 are movably mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively through a first movement phase from the upright or sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the intermediate tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 2 and for a second movement phase from the intermediate tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 2 through a series of reclining positions to the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 3. In the interest of simplicity, there is no showing of the leg-rest and its mounting and control arrangement. However, it will be appreciated that the chair will incorporate a leg-rest which moves to an elevated leg-supporting position when the chair moves into the intermediate tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 2. Such leg-rest and its mounting and control arrangement may take a wide variety of forms, as may be appreciated by referring to the prior art patents of the assignee herein.

A combined back-rest and seat control means is provided for maintaining a substantially fixed angular relationship between the seat 24 and the back-rest 22 during the first movement phase (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and for establishing an increasing angular relationship between the seat 24 and the back-rest 22 during the second movement phase (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The combined seat and back-rest control includes a carrier member 26- which extends lengthwise of the chair support frame 12 and has a carrier pivot 28 on the support 12 at a location spaced forwardly of its rearward end. The carrier member 26 remains stationary during the first movement phase and turns about the carrier pivot 28 during the second movement phase, with the longer and forwardly projecting arm thereof moving through an upward are and the shorter rearwardly directed arm thereof moving through a downward arc. Seat guiding means are operatively connected to the carrier member 26 and the seat 24 and serve during the first movement phase to impart a prescribed inclination to the seat. In this illustrative embodiment, the seat guiding means includes a front seat guiding link 30 which has a front pivotal mount 32 on the forward end of the carrier member 26 and a front pivotal connection 34 to the seat and a rear guiding link 36 which has a rear pivotal mount 38 on the carrier member 26 and a rear pivotal connection 40 to the seat 24. The rearward portion of the seat 24 is connected to the lower end of the back-rest 22 at a seat pivot 42 spaced rearwardly of the pivotal connection 4%.

Operatively connected to the back-rest 22 and to the support 12 is a back-rest guiding means which includes a first back-rest guiding link 44 pivotally mounted at its lower end on the support at a pivotal mount 46 and a i second back-rest guiding link 48 having a pivotal connection 50 at its upper end to the back-rest 22 at a point spaced above the seat pivot 42 and a pivotal connection 52 at its lower end to the upper end of the first back-rest guiding link 44.

An actuating connection is provided between the backrest guiding means 44, 48 and the carrier member 26 for reclining the back-rest 22 relative to the seat 24 in response to movement of the carrier member 26 relative to the support 12 during the second movement phase such as to increase the angular relationship between the backrest 22 and the seat 24. In this illustrative arrangement, the actuating connection includes the pin or pivotal connection 52 between the back-rest guiding links 44, 48 which pin is confined with a downwardly and rearwardly inclined slot 54 formed in the rearwardly directed shorter arm of the carrier member 26. The pin 52 remains at the upper and forward end of the slot 54 during the first movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 1 and 2, and is displaced toward the lower and rearward end of the slot 54 during the second movement phase, as may be appreciated by comparing FIGS. 2 and 3, as the carrier member 26 turns about the carrier pivot 28 during such second movement phase.

A sequencing means, generally designated by the reference numeral 56, is Operatively connected to the seat guiding link 36 and to the support 12 and serves during the first movement phase of the chair to permit inclining movement of the seat 24 relative to the carrier member 26 and to preclude movement of the carrier member 26 relative to the support 12. Further the sequencing means 56 serves during the second movement phase to preclude inclining movement of the seat 24- relative to the carrier member 26 and to permit turning movement of the carrier member 26 relative to the support 12' about the carrier pivot 28. In this illustrative embodiment, the sequencing means includes a sequencing plate 58 integral with the rear seat guiding link 36 and projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the pivotal mount 38 thereof on the carrier member 26. The sequencing plate is provided with a double-arc slot 64} which guidingly engages a pin 62 fixed to the support. The double-arc slot 60 includes a first slot section 60a on a radius about the pivotal mount 38 for the rear seat guiding link 36 and a second section 60!) on a radius about the carrier pivot 28 of the carrier member 26. The sequencing plate 58 is arranged in relation to the pin 62 such that the pin 62 is at the lower end of the slot section 69a in the upright or sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 1. As the chair moves through the first movement phase, the rear guiding link 36 of the seat guiding means is permitted to turn in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 38 in that the slot section 69a is of an appropriate radius to permit such turning movement. At the end of the first movement phase in the intermediate tilted sitting position, the junction of the slot sections 60a, 60b is positioned at the location of the fixed pin 62 such that during the second movement phase the pin 62 cooperates with the slot 60b to allow the carrier member 26 to turn about the carrier pivot 28 and to preclude any further turning movement of the rear guiding link 36 of the seat guiding means in relation to the carrier member 26. This effectively fixes the position of the seat 24 in relation to the carrier member 26 during the second movement phase.

For a more thorough understanding of the invention, a typical sequence of operations will now be described:

When the chair occupant is. seated in the chair and presses against the back-rest 22, the first movement phase is initiated with the body-supporting unit 22, 24 moving from the upright or sitting position of FIG. 1 into the intermediate tilted sitting position of FIG. 2. During such first movement phase, the carrier member 26 re mains stationary in relation to the support and the seat 24 is guided by the front and rear seat guiding links 30, 36

which turn in the clockwise direction about their respective pivotal mounts 32, 38. Further, the back-rest 22 is guided during such first movement phase by the second back-rest guiding link 48 which turns about the pivotal connection or pin 52 serving as a relatively stationary mount. The guiding action on the seat under control of the front and rear seat guiding links 30, 36 which inclines the seat and the guiding action on the back-rest 22 under control of the back-rest guiding link 48- which reclines the back-rest is such that there is substantially no angular displacement between the seat 24 and the backrest during the first movement phase. As previously indicated during such first movement phase the sequencing plate 58 turns such that the slot section 600 moves in relation to the fixed pin 62, with the pin 62 arriving at the junction between the slot section 6%, 66b in the the intermediate tilted sitting position of FIG. 2. It will of course be appreciated that a leg-rest (not shown) will usually be incorporated in the chair which leg-rest will move to an elevated leg-supporting position when the body-supporting unit arrives at the intermediate tilted sitting position of FIG. 2.

In order to initiate the second movement phase, the chair occupant leans further against the back-rest 22 whereupon the carrier member 26 will turn about the carrier member 23 as the slot section 60]) moves in relation to the pin 62. During the second movement phase, the seat 24- and the front and rear guiding links 31 36 become stationary with the carrier member 26 and turn in an are about the carrier pivot 28, with the back-rest being guided by the links 44, 48. The back-rest guiding link 44 turns in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 46 on the support and the pin between the links 44, 48 translates downwardly and rearwardly along the slot 54. The included angle between the seat 24 and the back-rest 22 opens up during the second movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 2 and 3. Although the back-rest guiding means is illustrated as including a link 44 having a pivotal mount 46 on the support, it will be appreciated that a slot may be provided in the support on a radius about the pivotal mount 46 and in position to engage the pin 52 to impart the desired guiding action to the same during the second movement phase.

When the chair occupant desires to restore the chair either to intermediate tilted sitting position of FIG. 2 or the upright sitting position of FIG. 1, it is merely necessary to lean forwardly and apply pressure against the leg-rest and/ or the seat to initiate the reverse sequence of operations, with the chair first moving into the inter mediate tilted sitting position of FIG. 2 and then moving to the upright or sitting position of FIG. 1.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4 to 6 of the drawings, there is shown a reclining chair 110 demonstrating further features of the present invention which includes a support or frame 112 having opposite side walls 114, 116 interconnected by suitable cross braces 113 and supported on depending legs 120.

Body-supporting means including a back-rest 122 and a seat 124 are movably mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively through a first movement phase from the upright or sitting position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the intermediate tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 5 and for a second movement phase from the intermediate tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 5 through a series of reclining positions to the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 6. In the interest of simplicity, the leg-rest and its mounting and control arrangement has not been illustrated herein. However, it will be appreciated that the chair incorporates a leg-rest which moves to an elevated leg-supporting position when the body-supporting means 122, 124- moves into the intermediate tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 5 and that such leg-rest and its mounting and control arrangement may take a wide variety of forms, as may be appreciated by referring to the prior art patent of applicants assignee (i.e. U.S. Pat. No. 2,918,113).

A combined seat and back-rest control means is pro vided for maintaining a substantially fixed. angular relationship between the seat 124 and the back-rest 122 during the first movement phase (see FIGS. 4 and 5) and for somewhat increasing angular relationship between the seat 124 and the back-rest 122 during the second move? ment phase (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The combined seat and b ack-rest control includes a carrier member 126 which extends lengthwise of the chair support frame 112 and has a carrier pivot 128 on the support 112 at a location adjacent the rearward end of the carrier member 126. The carrier member 126 is adapted to remain stationary during the first movement phase and turns about the carrier pivot 128 during the second movement through an upward and rearward arc. Seat guiding means are operatively connected to the carrier member 126 and the seat 124 and serve during the first movement phase to impart a prescribed inclination to the seat. In this illustrative embodiment, the seat guiding means includes a front seat guiding link 1341 which has a front pivotal mount 132 on the forward end of the carrier member 126 and a front pivotal connection 134 to the seat and a rear guiding link 136 which has a rear pivotal mount 133 on the carrier member 126 and a rear pivotal connection 149 to the seat 12 4- at a location spaced from the pivotal connection 134. The rearward portion of the seat 124 is connected to the lower end of the backrest 122 at a seat pivot 142 spaced rearwardly of the pivotal connection 140.

Operatively connected to the back-rest 122 and to the support 112 is a back-rest guiding means which includes a first back-rest guiding link 14 4 which extends lengthwise of the support and has its forward end pivotally mounted on the support at a pivotal mount 146 and a second back-rest guiding link 148 which has a pivotal connection 150 at its upper end to the back-rest 122 at a point spaced forwardly of the seat pivot 142 and a pivotal connection 152 at its lower end to the back-rest guiding link 144.

An actuating connection is provided between the backrest guiding means 144, 148 and the carrier member 126 for reclining the back-rest 122 relative to the seat 124 in response to movement of the carrier member 126 relative to the support 112 during the second movement phase such as to increase the angular relationship between the back-rest 122 and the seat 124. In this illustrative arrangement the actuating connection includes a pin or pivotal connection 153 fixed to the carrier member 126 and confined with a slot 154 formed lengthwise of the first back-rest guiding link 144. The pin 153 remains adjacent the forward end of the slot 154- during the. first movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 4 and 5, and is displaced toward the rearward end of the slot 154 during the second movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 5 and 6, as the carrier member 126 turns about the carrier pivot 128.

A sequencing means, generally designated by the reference numeral 156, is operatively connected to the seat guiding link 136 and to the support 112 and serves during the first movement phase of the chair to permit inclining movement of the seat 124 relative to the carrier member 126 and to preclude movement of the carrier member 126 relative to the support 112. Further, the sequencing means 156 serves during the second movement phase to preclude inclining movement of the seat 124 relative to the carrier member 126 and to permit turning movement of the carrier member 126 relative to the support about the carrier pivot 128. In this illustrative embodiment, the sequencing means includes a sequencing plate 158 integral with the front seat guiding link 130 and provided with a double-arc slot 160 which guidingly engages a pin 162 fixed to the support. The double-arc slot 166 includes a first slot section 16601 on a radius about the pivotal mount 132 for the front seat guiding link 130 and a second section 1601) on a radius about the carrier pivot 12% of the carrier member 126. The sequencing plate 158 is arranged in relation to the pin 162 such that the pin 162 is at the lower end of the slot section 166a in the upright or sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 4. As the chair moves through the first movement phase, the front guiding link 130 of the seat guiding means is permitted to turn in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 132 in that the slot section 16011 is of an appropriate radius to permit such turning movement. At the end of the first movement phase in the intermediate tilted sitting position, the junction of the double-arc slot sections 166a, 16612 is positioned at the location of the fixed pin 162 such that during the second movement phase the pin 162 cooperates with the slots 16617 to allow the carrier member 126 to turn about the carrier pivot 128 and to preclude any further turning movement of the front guiding link 1311 of the seat guiding means in relation to the carrier member 126. This effectively fixes the position of the seat 124- in relation to the carrier member 126.

For a more thorough understanding of the invention, a typical sequence of operations will now be described:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair and presses against the back-rest 122 the first movement phase is initiated with the body-supporting unit 122, 124 moving from the upright or sitting position of FIG. 4 into the intermediate tilted sitting position of FIG. 5. During such first movement phase, the carrier member 126 remains stationary in relation to the support and the seat 124 is guided by the front and rear seat guiding links 130, 136 which turn in the clockwise direction about their respective pivotal mounts 132, 138. Further, the back-rest 122 is guided during such first movement phase by the link 148 which turns about the pivotal connection or pin 152 serving as a relatively stationary mount. The guiding action on the seat 124 under control of the front and rear seat guiding links 1311, 136 which inclines the seat 124 and the guiding action on the back-rest 122 under control of the back-rest guiding link 1 58 which reclines the back-rest 122 is such that there is substantially no angular displacement between the seat 124 and the back-rest 122 during the first movement phase. During such first movement phase, the sequencing plate 15% turns such that the slot section 16% moves in relation to the fixed pin 162, with the pin 162 arriving at the junction between the slot section 1619a, 16% in the intermediate tilted sitting position of FIG. 5.

In order to initiate the second movement phase, the chair occupant leans further against the back-rest 22 whereupon the carrier member 126 will turn about the carrier member 128 as the slot section 1611b moves in relation to the pin 162. During the second phase of the movement the seat 124 and the front and rear guiding link 130, 136 becomes stationary with the carrier member 126 and turn in an are about the carrier pivot 128, with the back-rest being guided by the links 144, 148. The backrest guiding link 144 turns in the counterclockwise direction about the pivotal mount 146 on the support and the pin 153 'on the carrier member 126 translates rearwardly along the slot 154 in the guiding link 14 1, with the included angle between the seat 12-4 and the back-rest 122 opening up during such second movement phase.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

Iclaim:

1. In a reclining chair, a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, a carrier member, means movably mounting said carrier member on said support, seat guiding means operatively connected to said carrier member and to said seat, means pivotally connecting said seat to said back-rest at a seat pivot, back-rest guiding means operatively connected to said back-rest and to said support, an actuating connection between said back-rest guiding means and said carrier member for reclining said backrest relative to said seat in response to movement of said carrier member relative to said support, and sequencing means operatively connected to said seat guiding means and to said support and serving during a first movement phase to permit inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member and to preclude movement of said carrier member relative to said support and during a second movement phase to preclude inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member and to permit movement of said carrier member relative to said support.

2. In a reclining chair, a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, a carrier member, means movably mounting said carrier member on said support, seat guiding means operatively connected to said carrier member and to said seat, means pivotally connecting said seat to said back-rest at a seat pivot, back-rest guiding means operatively connected to said back-rest and to said support, an actuating connection between said back-rest guiding means and said carrier member for reclining said back-rest relative to said seat in response to movement of said carrier member relative to said support, and sequencing means operatively connected to said seat guiding means and to said support and serving during a first movement phase to permit inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member and to preclude movement of said carrier member relative to said support and during a second movement phase to preclude inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member and to permit movement of said carrier member relative to said support, the inclining of said seat under control of said seat guiding means and the reclining of said backrest under control of said back-rest guiding means being arranged such that there is substantially no angular displacement between said seat and back-rest during said first movement phase, the movement of said carrier member and the further reclining of said back-rest being such that there is an increasing angular displacement between said seat and back-rest during said second movement phase.

3. In a reclining chair, a support, body-supporting means including a seat and backrest adapted to be mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, a carrier member, means movably mounting said carrier member on said support, seat guiding means operatively connected to said carrier member and to said seat, means pivotally connecting said seat to said back-rest at a seat pivot, back-rest guiding means operatively connected to said back-rest and to said support, said back-rest guiding means including a back-rest guiding link pivotally mounted on said support and a connecting link pivotally connected to said back-rest guiding link andto said back-rest, an actuating connection between said back-rest guiding means and said carrier member for reclining said back-rest relative to said seat in response to movement of said carrier member relative to said support, and sequencing means operatively connected to said seat guiding means and to said support and serving during a first movement phase to permit inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member andto preclude movement of said carrier member relative to said support and during a second movement phase to preclude inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member and to permit movement of said carrier member relative to said support.

4. In a reclining chair according to claim 3, said actuating connection including a pin and slot interconnection between said carrier member and at least one of said back-rest guiding link and said connecting link.

5. In a reclining chair, a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, a carrier member, means movably mounting said carrier member on said support, seat guiding means operatively connected to said carrier member and to said seat, means pivotally connecting said seat to said back-rest at a seat pivot, back-rest guiding means operatively connected to said back-rest and to said support, an actuating connection between said backrest guiding means and said carrier member for reclining said back-rest relative to said seat in response to movement of said carrier member relative to said support, and sequencing means operatively connected to said seat guiding means and to said support and serving during a first movement phase to permit inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member and to preclude movement of said carrier member relative to said support and during a second movement phase to preclude inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member and to permit movement of said carrier member relative to said support, said sequencing means including a pin and a double-arced slot guidingly engaging said pin and having a first slot section on a radius about the pivotal mount of said one seat guiding link and a second slot section on a radius about said carrier pivot, said pin being arranged along said first slot section during said first movement phase, and along said second slot section during said second movement phase, the including of said seat under control of said seat guiding means and the reclining of said back-rest under control of said back-rest guiding means being arranged such that there is substantially no angular displacement between said seat and back-rest during said first movement phase, the movement of said carrier member and the further reclining of said backrest being such that there is an increasing angular displacement between said seat and back-rest during said second movement phase.

6. In a reclining chair, a support body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, a carrier member, means pivotally mounting said carrier member on said support for turning movement about a carrier pivot, a front seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member and pivotally connected to said seat, a rear seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member and pivotally connected to said seat, means pivotally connecting said seat to said back-rest at a seat pivot, back-rest guiding means pivotally connected to said back-rest and said support, an actuating connection between said back-rest guiding means and said carrier member for reclining said back-rest relative to said seat in response to turning movement of said carrier member about said carrier pivot, and sequencing means operatively connected to one of said seat guiding links and to said support and serving during a first movement phase to permit inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member and to preclude turning movement of said carrier member relative to said support and during a second movement phase to preclude inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member and to permit turning movement of said carrier member relative to said support.

7. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on said support for including and reclining movement respectively, a carrier member, means pivotally mounting said carrier member on said support for turning movement about a carrier pivot, a front seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member and pivotally connected to said seat, a rear seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member and pivotally connected to said seat, means pivotally connecting said seat to said back-rest at a seat pivot back-rest guiding means pivotally connected to said back-rest and said support, a pin and slot actuating connection between said back-rest guiding means and said carrier member for reclining said back-rest relative to said seat in response to turning move ment of said carrier member about said carrier pivot, and sequencing means operatively connected to one of said seat guiding links and to said support and serving during a first movement phase to permit inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member and to preclude turning movement of said carrier member relative to said support and during a second movement phase to preclude inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member and to permit turning movement oi? said carrier member relative to said support, the inclining of said seat under control of said front and rear seat guiding links and the reclining of said back-rest under control of said backrest guiding means being arranged such that there is substantially no angular displacement between said seat and back-rest during said first movement phase, the turning of said carrier member and the further reclining of said back-rest under control of said back-rest guiding means being such that there is an increasing angular displacement between said seat and back-rest during said second movement phase.

8. A reclining chair according to claim 7 wherein said carrier pivot is intermediate the ends of said carrier member and said actuating connection is to the rear end of said carrier member.

9. A reclining chair according to claim 7 wherein said carrier pivot is at the rear end of said carrier member and said actuating connection is intermediate the ends of said carrier member.

10. In a reclining chair, a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on said support for including and reclining movement respectively, a carrier member, means pivotally mounting said carrier member on said support for turning movement about a carrier pivot, a front seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member at a front pivotal mount and pivotally connected to said seat, a rear seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member at a rear pivotal mount and pivotally connected to said seat, means pivotally connecting said seat to said backrest at a seat pivot, back-rest guiding means pivotally connected to said back-rest and said support, an actuating connection between said back-rest guiding means and said carrier member for reclining said back-rest relative to said seat in responsive to turning movement of said carrier member about said carrier pivot, and sequencing means operatively connected to one of said seat guiding links and to said support and serving during a first movement phase to permit inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member and to preclude turning movement of said carrier member relative to said support and during a second movement phase to preclude inclining movement of said seat relative to said carrier member and to permit turning movement of said carrier member relative to said support, said sequencing means including a pin and a double-arced slot guidingly engaging said pin and having a first slot section on a radius about the pivotal mount of said one seat guiding link and a second slot section on a radius about said carrier pivot, said pin being arranged along said first slot section during said first movement phase and along said second slot section during said second movement phase, the inclining of said seat under control of said front and rear seat guiding links and the reclining of said back-rest under control of said back-rest guiding means being arranged such that there is substantially no angular displacement between said seat and back-rest during said first movement phase, the turning 1 1 of said carrier member and the further reclining of said back-rest being such that there is an increasing angular displacement between said seat and back-rest during said second movement phase.

11. In a reclining chair, a support, body-supporting means including a seat and a back-rest pivotally mounted thereon, a carrier member pivotally mounted on said support at a carrier pivot, a front seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member and pivotally connected to said seat at a front pivotal connection, and a rear seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member and pivotally connected to said seat at a rear pivotal connection, said front and rear seat guiding links and the portion of said seat intermediate said front and rear pivotal connections serving as three movable links of a four-bar seat guiding linkage during a first movement phase with said carrier member serving as a sta tionary link thereof, back-rest guiding means operatively connected to said back-rest and cooperating with said seat guiding linkage for guiding said back-rest during said first movement phase in a first relationship to said seat, and means for effectively blocking said seat guiding linkage at the end of said first movement phase such that said carrier member turns about said carrier pivot during a second movement phase, said back-rest guiding means cooperating with said carrier member for guiding said back-rest during said second movement phase in a second relationship to said seat.

12. in a reclining chair, a support, body-supporting means including a seat and a back-rest operatively mounted thereon, a carrier member pivotally mounted on said support at a carrier pivot, a front seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member and pivotally connected to said seat at a front pivotal connection, and a rear seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member and pivotally connected to said seat at a rear pivotal connection, said front and rear seat guiding links and the portion of said seat intermediate said front and rear pivotal connections serving as three movable links of a four-bar seat guiding linkage during a first movement phase with said carrier member serving as a stationary link thereof, back-rest guiding means operatively connected to said back-rest and to carrier member and cooperating With said seat guiding linkage for guiding said back-rest during said first movement phase in a first relationship to said seat, and means for blocking said seat guiding linkage at the end of said first movement phase such that said carrier member turns about said carrier pivot during a second movement phase, said back-rest guiding means cooperating with said carrier member for guiding said back-rest during said second movement phase in a second relationship to said seat, said back-rest guiding means including first and second back-rest guiding links, means pivotally interconnecting said back-rest guiding links and pivotally connecting said backrest guiding links to said carrier member, means pivotally mounting one of said back-rest guiding links on said support, and means pivotally connecting the other of said back-rest guiding links to said back-rest, said other back-rest guiding link turning relative to said carrier member and said support during said first movement phase, both of said backrest guiding links turning relative to said support during said second movement phase in response to turning movement of said carrier member.

13. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, a carrier member, means pivotally mounting said carrier member on said support for turning movement about a carrier pivot, a front seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member and pivotally connected to said seat, a rear seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member and pivotally connected to said seat, means pivotally connecting said seat to said back-rest at a back-rest pivot, back-rest guiding means including first and second back-rest guiding links having a pivotal interconnection, means pivotally mounting one of said back-rest guiding links on said sup-t port at a back-rest guiding pivotal mount, means pivotally connecting the other of said back-rest guiding links to said back-rest at a back-rest guiding pivotal connection spaced from said back-rest pivot, said front seat guiding link, said rear seat guiding link and the portion of said seat intermediate said front and rear pivotal connections serving as three movable links of a four-bar seat guiding linkage during a first movement phase during which said carrier member remains stationary and serves as a stationary link thereof, said one back-rest guiding link remaining stationary during said first movement phase such that said other back-rest guiding link, the portion of said back-rest intermediate said back-rest guiding pivotal connection and said back-rest pivot, the portion of said seat intermediate said back-rest pivot and rear pivotal connection, and said rear guiding link serve as four movable links of a five-bar backarest guiding linkage including said carrier member intermediate said rear pivotal mount and said back rest guiding pivotal mount as the stationary link thereof, said back-rest guiding linkage being constrained during said first movement phase by said seat guiding linkage, and means for eifectively blocking relative movement between said seat and carrier member during a second movement phase and enabling turning movement of said carrier member about said carrier pivot during said second movement phase.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

